Stem Cell Research Assistant in the Department of Developmental Neurobiology - INTERNAL ONLY

Job id: 089486. Salary: £37,332 - £42,099 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 13 May 2024. Closing date: 19 May 2024.

Business unit: IoPPN. Department: Developmental Neurobiology.

Contact details:Deepak P. Srivastava. [email protected]

Location: Guy's Campus. Category: Research.

THIS VACANCY IS OPEN TO INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

The post holder will be involved in a MRC funded project aimed at generating region-specific organoids and assembloids from multiple gene-edited human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines.

The project will initially involve a combination of molecular and cellular approaches. The generated brain organoids and assembloids will be characterised using a series of functional, cellular and molecular approaches. In collaboration with researchers from collaborating groups, the poster holder will also be involved in training researchers to grow, maintain and work with organoids/assembloids. Research will focus specifically, but not exclusively, on growing and characterising brain organoids from multiple hiPSC lines. You will be expected to carry out routine experiments required for these studies, including (but not limited to) grow and manipulate hiPSC and brain organoids using aseptic techniques; and techniques, including immunocytochemistry, microscopy, biochemistry and molecular biology.]=

You will also be required to be able to maintain a high level of detailed records, stocks and inventory of hiPSCs and organoids and will also be expected to work with researchers within the group, including PhD students and post-doctoral fellows. Significant experience working with hiPSCs/stem cells is essential.

This post will be offered on a full-time, fixed term contract for 2 years.

• Develop and undertake research of high quality consistent with making a full active research contribution in line with the departmental research strategy.  
• Grow and maintain multiple hiPSC lines and carry out routine validation and QC assays on hiPSC lines. 
• Differentiate stem cells into brain organoids. 
• Perform cytochemcial, molecular, and cellular biochemistry studies to the robustness of hiPSC lines to generated organoids and characterize the type of neural cells being produced. 
• Carry out data collection and analysis. 
• Train and support researchers in basic tissue culture techniques as well as growth/maintenance of organoid cultures. 
• Facilitate collaboration and networking which engages and supports the activates of the Department. 
• Undertake any other reasonable duties that may be relevant to the role outline. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

You will require skills, knowledge and experience of culturing human stem cells, carrying out immunocytochemistry, molecular biology and biochemical experiments. It is required that the poster holder has experience of differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells into neurons and generation of organoids. Experience of generating slice cultures from organoids and knowledge of MEA system is also desirable.  

Essential criteria  

1.       Hold a relevant undergraduate degree (e.g. degree in neuroscience) 

2.       Significant experience of tissue culture, growth and maintenance of human stem cell cultures 

3.       Significant experience of basic molecular biology and immunocytochemistry techniques including fluorescent microscopy 

4.       Significant experience differentiating iPSCs into neuronal cells  

5.       Experience of generating brain organoids  

6.       Evidence of good record keeping and project management   

7.       Ability to manage own academic research and associated activities  

8.       Excellent communication skills, including proven record of training researchers in tissue culture and stem cell techniques and neuronal differentiation 

Desirable criteria

1.       Generation of slice cultures from (brain) organoids 

2.       Knowledge of multi-electrode arrays 

3.       Experience of crispr-gene editing